Horizon School Division teacher and administrator Patrick Winand brings a student-centred philosophy to his classrooms and the schools he’s worked in. It’s the platform for student success, and his attitude and efforts have garnered him a pair of major awards. Winand is the 2023 recipient of Inclusion Saskatchewan’s Teacher of the Year Award and the National Inclusive Education Award. 

Winand originally hails from Englefeld, and he’s currently the newly appointed principal in nearby LeRoy School. His journey back to his home area has been a circuitous one. After graduating from Englefeld School, Winand took a position teaching in an elementary school near Regina while he worked with the University of Regina’s men's and women's volleyball teams. Then it was off for a stint in Edmonton to King’s College where he continued his work with their athletic program, both in and out of the classroom, along with duties in marketing. He returned to Saskatchewan and the secondary system as vice-principal and learning resource teacher at Wakaw School. 

Inclusion Saskatchewan gave Winand a call late in 2022 letting him know he’d been nominated by a group of community members for the provincial award. Winand was involved in an extensive interview process, and his work in the school division and in his previous employment was researched as part of the organization’s selection process.  

“After that process, a few weeks later, they contacted me to tell me I was the successful candidate and that I’d be receiving the award,” said Winand. He received the award at the Inclusion Saskatchewan Awards in Saskatoon where he spoke about the importance of inclusive education and programming geared to individual children that would allow them to progress at their own rate.  

“I learned early on in my career that my teaching philosophy surrounds moral process and a transformative process, meaning how do we get every student from A to B through a progression. I definitely took a learner-centred approach, and I always will. Just treated every child with their unique name and unique need is really important to me – meeting students exactly where they’re at and understanding it’s not a one size fits all.”  

Even if it’s a classroom of 27 students and attending to 27 individual sets of needs, Winand says that’s what has to happen to ensure that each child has the best opportunity to reach their potential. Working closely with the learning resource team in Wakaw School meant a group approach to setting up interventions and supports where needed. Winand has taken that approach to his new leadership role in LeRoy. 

“The LeRoy staff has welcomed me and recognized the award I received, and I think that anybody who truly knows education knows it’s a team effort. When we’re talking about inclusivity, we need input and help from our teachers, our incredible educational assistants, our superintendent of inclusive learning, our director and our parents.” 

Winand expressed that he was humbled by the provincial award, and he’s quick to spread the credit to those around him. He was even more surprised when he found out about the national award, an honour he knew nothing about before it was bestowed on him.  

“That one was kept a secret from me, and that was incredible. It literally made my jaw drop.” 

Winand’s family was in attendance for the presentation which made the moment even more special. The teacher and administrator has returned to his roots in the Horizon School Division, and the kids and families in his schools will undoubtedly be the better for it.  

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